Display apparatus



June 10, 1930. HARTMAN ET AL DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1928 3Sheets Shee l are fl flaw/(Orson ATTORNEY-S June 10, 1930. M. HARTMAN EAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO RN EYSJune 10, 1930. 'M. HARTMAN ET AL 1,752,635

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORSATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILTON HARTMAN, GRAYSTON L, OI-IMART AND THEODORE I-I. HAWKINSON, OF DE- I 'IRQI'I,MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS 'IO LOCALIZED ADVERTISING CORPORATION, OF DE- TROIT,MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN DISPLAY APPARATUS Application filedNovember 26, 1928. Serial No. 321,952.

Thisinvention relates to display apparatus and more particularly to animproved construction of sign of the type employing a changeableexhibitor.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a sign of thereflector type, that is, one which is illuminated by reflection asdistinguished from direct projection of the light and provided withchangeable exhibitor means whereby an animated message consisting of aseries of words, signs or the like may be displayed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of theherein described character having means which may be readily associatedtherewith for supplying a source of illumination for use at night or atother times when a natural source of light is not available forilluminating the sign.

The invention also has as its object to simplify, render more eflicientand improve generally devices of this character and to thisend consistsin the novel combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, all ofwhich will be made more apparent as this description proceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

' Figure -1 is a separated perspective view of a display apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the device with the rear wall removedand certain parts in section.

' Figure 3 isa horizontal sectional view taken substantially on theplane indicated by line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4; is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by line 44 in Figure 2 with the shadow box arranged thereabovebut separated therefrom.

v Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by line '5-5 in Figure 2.

.Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view takensubstantially onthe plane indicated byline 66 in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on theplane indicated by line 77 in Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts, it will be noted that the deviceconsists of a box or casing 10 consisting of a bottom 11, a back 12,ends 13, and a front 14.

The herein described sign or display device is of the reflector type ofa construction substantially similar to this type of sign now inextensive commercial use. To this end the device is provided with amember 14 such as a mirror or the like providing a reflecting surface,this member 14. being suitably supported as for instance by brackets 15within the housing or casing 10 and in an inclined position such as mostclearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4:. The images or words or the likereflected in the member let are visible through the opening 16 formed inthe front of the casing. The matter to be displaced passeslongitudinally across the top 17 of the housing in a manner to be morefully hereinafter referred to.

While signs of the reflector type have as a general rule heretofore beencapable of dis playing unanimated signs only, the present inventioncontemplates the association with this type of sign of a travellingexhibitor whereby a series of words, signs, figures and the like may bedisplayed. The invention also contemplates the provision of meanswhereby the color of the words, images and the like reflected in themirror 1 may be changed at will.

To this end the invention contemplates the use of an endless perforatedstrip or tape which is adapted to be drawn longitudinally of the housingacross the top 17. To this end the top 1.7 is provided with atransparent portion or section 19 along which the perforated tape 18travels while being maintained. in a horizontal or a sub stantiallyhorizontal. position. he reference character 20 (see particularlyFigures 1, 2 and 4) indicates a color screen in the form of a sheet oftransluscent material of the desired or preferred color. With the hereinj illustrated means for accomplishing this, lt-will 'be'imperforatedstrip 18, this message or sign may be reflected in the mirror 14 bypassing the perforated tape 18 along the top of the housing 10 between thetransparentand translucent members 19 and 20 respectively.

It is of course desirable to provide means for automatically moving thetape 18, across the; top of the housing and while we have electricallyoperated mediatelyjobvious to those skilled in this art, that a springmotor or any other pre-.

ferred or desired type of power means may be employed for this purpose.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated we have shown anelectric motor 21 supported upon a partition 22 which extendslongitudinally of the housing 10 and interiorly thereof toprovidebetween this partition and bottom 11, a chamber or compartment 23. Thischamber orcompartinent 23 provides a space in which the endless tape 18may accumulate in folds, in the'manner' most clearly illustrated inFigure 2.

:It will be obvious that by thus handling that portion ofthe endlesstape '18 which is not being illuminated, anendless strip ofconsiderablelength maybe employed and the use of an excessive numberofguide-rolls or other guiding means may be avoided.

The electric motor-21- has the shaft 24 8 thereof onnected by means of acoupling 25 to a reduction gear unit 26. While obviously this reductiongear unit may be of'any desired or preferred "construction, it will benoted,particularly from an examinationof Figures 4 and 6 that itcomprises a worm 27 which meshes with a worm wheel 28 car- I ried by ashaft 29which extends ext'eriorly are carried by a member 37 pivotallysupported vas at'38on the bottom 11 of the casing; The supporting plateor member 37 and consequently the idler roll 35, is urged in an upwarddirection toward the driven roll 33 by means of a spring 39'.

The endless strip 18 after it passes between rolls 3335 is guidedonwardv into and through'chamber 23 by means of an inclined supportingmember 40 'whichforms with the partition 22, a tapering passage wayincreasing insize 1n the direction away from the roli's 3335.- Thishasbeen found to facilitate feeding of theaccumulated folds of the endlessstrip-18 so that the accumulation of the folds ad acent'the feedingrollers will move the previously accumulated folds longitudinally of thechamber 23 in the manner most clearly suggested in Figure 2. As has beenpreviously mentioned, the

endless strip 18 is caused to travel longitudinally of the topof thecasing while ar-- F ranged in a horizontal plane which obviously is themost natural position for' the strip and the one in which the strip may'be most readily and 'efliciently supported handled. The endless strip.is slidably supported upon the transparent panel 19. Ar-

ranged at eachend of the housing 10 is a transversely extendinganti-friction or guide roller 41 jover which the endless strip 18"passes and the strip is placed under tension in its flight across thetop of the housing by means of a tensioning or friction device whichconsists essentially of a spring pressed member 42 which is urgedtowards a. guide plate 43 and frictionally engages thestrip 18 to retardits movement to thus cause the feeding rollers 33 35 to maintain theupper flight of the perforated strip taut.

. Obviously it is frequently desirable to" valter thespeed at which theperforated strip 18 is fed throughthe machine and to this and so I

end we propose .employinga rheostat 44 of i any preferred or desiredconstruction con-j trollable by a handle or lever45 which may beconveniently extended through a slot 46 provided in the rear wall 12 ofthe casing.

The reference character 47 indicates an electric cable containing thewires connecting the device to any suitable source of our 1 rent. Thereference 'charac'ter48 indicates an electric cable containing wiresconnected to therso'urce of current and leading toa socket 49 secured inthe top17 of the casing adjacent one of the longitudinal edges thereof.This socket is employed for a purpose which willzappear immediately.

While ordinarily this display device is 8 adapted to beilluminated byv anatural source of light,.such for instance asthe sun or day light or bya source of artificial illumination not immediately associatedtherewith, as for instance thelights ina store, shop window or the like,it'isfrequently desirable to provide a positive source ofillumination'which may be immediately-associated with 'thef'casas a 7ing'so that this display device may beefiicientlyemployed at night. Tothis end we propose employing a removable shadow box 7 indicatedgenerally by. the reference chari V acter- 50, see particularly Figures1 and 4. This shadow box consists essentially. of an.

inverted pan-shaped reflector .51 in which a plurality of electric lightb ulbs 52fare arranged and supported. The sockets 53 I of these electriclight bulbs are" all elec trically connected and thejleads therefromfareconnected to a plugv54 secured'to the shadow box '50 adjacent one of itslower;

Theplug 54 is so t cated as toengage the socket 49 carried bylongitudinal edges.

the casing 10 when the shadow box 50 is placed in position on top of thecasing.

The shadow box may be conveniently removably secured in place by meansof lugs or projections 55 arranged at the ends thereof which are adaptedto engage under hinged flaps 56 carried by the ends of the casing. Whilethese flaps 56 may be locked down in any preferred manner, thumb nuts 57are shown,the threaded stems 58 of which engage threaded apertures inbrackets 59 carried by the rear wall 12 of the casing. These flaps intheir locked down position overlie the adjacent ends of both thetransparent and translucent members 19 and 20 so as to also secure thesemembers in place. Obviously this provides a convenient means forremoving either or both the transparent or translucent members 19 and 20if and when desired.

Inasmuch as it may be necessary frequently' to gain access to theinterior of the casing, the rear wall 12 is made removable and when inplace is secured by the thumb nuts 57. The lower edge of this wallmember 12 is provided with apertured brackets 60 which engage studs 61projecting upwardly from the bottom 11 of the casing. A vertical guidewall 62 for closing the rear side of compartment 23 is also carried bythe wall 12 and is secured in spaced relation to the latter by means ofblocks or supporting members 63.

In operation the endless perforated strip 18 is drawn across the top ofthe housing, preferably between the transparent and translucent members19 and 20, and the light shining downwardly through these members 19 and20 and through the perforations of the strip 18 is'reflected in themirror 14 and the words, signs or images defined by the perforations,are visible in the mirror 14: and in the color of the screen 20. Themotor 21 and feed rollers 33 and 35 provide means for continuouslyfeeding the endless strip through the device so that the entire messageconsisting of a series of words, figures or signs, is successivelydisplayed. If the apparatus is used in a place where the natural orartificial illumination is not sufficient, the shadow box 50 may beplaced in position on top of the casing to supply the illuminationnecessary to cause a reflection of the sign in the mirror 14. Byarranging a construction wherein the endless strip 18 is moved throughthe machine in a natural horizontal position, this strip may be readilyhandled and manipulated without necessitating the use of elaborate andcomplicated supporting means and also may be readily accumulated infolds in the compartment 23 without the use of complicated and expensivemechanism. v

3 While an embodiment of this invention has been described andillustarted herein somewhat in detail, it will be readily apparent tothose skilled in this art that various changes in many of the essentialand all of the non-essential details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and tothis end reservation is made to make such changes as may come within thepurview of the accompanying claim.

lVhat we claim as our invention is:

In a display apparatus of the character described, a casing, said casinghaving a removable side wall and a removable top panel, a shadow boxadapted to be associated with the top of said casing and means forjointly securing said wall, panel and shadow box in position.

In testimony whereof we atlix our signatures.

MILTON HARTMAN. THEODORE H. HAWKINSON. GRAYSTON L. OHMART.

